At the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's 48th session in Busan, South Korea on
July 24, delegates approved a resolution inscribing five castles in southern
Lebanon, including Beaufort Castle, and the Sebastia archaeological site in the
West Bank on both the UNESCO World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage
in Danger. Israel’s foreign ministry condemned the decision; Foreign Minister
Sa'ar criticized the Sebastia listing. Israel said Hezbollah has used Beaufort
Castle as a military position; Lebanon’s delegate in Busan replied that since
Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000 the sites have been used only for
cultural and tourism purposes.